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Today’s Email Announcements

April Programs at Elk Knob State Park

Star Party      

Join us for our 4th annual Statewide Star Party on Saturday, April 9th! Come enjoy the dark skies of Elk Knob. We will use the park’s 8″ Celestron telescope to enhance viewing of celestial objects. If you have a pair of binoculars, please bring them. It is likely to be cold at this time of year so dress appropriately for the weather. In the event of inclement weather, we will move inside the park office and use Stellarium so the weather won’t spoil the fun. Meet at the park office at 6:00 p.m. For more information, please call 828-297-7261.

Wildflower Hike

If you missed them in the piedmont or just love spring ephemerals, come out to Elk Knob to see the first flowers of spring.  Meet at the trailhead parking lot on Sunday, April 24rd at 2 p.m.

Caldwell Arts Spring Party Fundraisers

As much a tradition this time of year as putting away winter clothes and enjoying fresh flowers, springtime means “pARTy” time for the Caldwell Arts Council and its supporters.

This year’s events include dinner parties, house concerts, workshops, the famous Lenoir Comedy Club, and even a dinner and private screening of the new EARTHCASTER documentary with internationally-renowned sculptor Thomas Sayre, creator of the “Across the Grain” sculpture in downtown Lenoir.

Reservations and prepayment are required for each of these dinner pARTies and you can make your reservations using a credit card on our website, www.caldwellarts.com, or by calling 828-754-2486. All proceeds from these events (with exceptions noted) will benefit the Caldwell Arts Council.

About the pARTies:

Tuesday, April 5, 6pm – CCC&TI Culinary School Chef Corey Hooks will prepare “A Twist on Southern Comforts” for 16 guests at $30/person.

Saturday, April 9, 5pm – Six Waterpots Vineyard in Hudson will host a wine tasting party for up to 40 guests at $10/person. A portion of these proceeds will benefit the Caldwell Arts Council.

Saturday, April 9, 6:30pm – Jimmie & Carrie Griffith will prepare a Brazilian Time feast followed by an intimate live Brazilian music concert in their home for 8 guests at $35/person.

Sunday, April 10, 1pm – Nell Fisher will present a Native-American Themed dinner and attendees will craft a Native-American Dream Catcher. $15/person, limit 20.

Friday, April 15, 7pm – Erik and Kourtney Rabinowitz will present Lenoir Contra Dance at New Song Church in the Lenoir Mall. Roberta Kogut will call the dances, and music will be provided by Bob Kogut, Patric Crouch, Kay Crouch and Ron Shuffler. No dance experience necessary! $10/person, no limit.

Saturday, April 16, 6pm – John & Heidi McGowan will prepare an intimate Italian Dinner at their home at The Coves for 8 guests at $50/person.

Saturday, April 16, 7-9pm – Rose Noakes and musician Kevin Smith present a Margaritaville Cocktail Party at the Irish Rose Bed & Breakfast with live music, exotic cocktails, wine and local beers and a great selection of appetizers. Limited to 50 guests at $25/person.

Friday, April 22, 6pm – Internationally-renowned sculptor Thomas Sayre returns to town to host a dinner and private screening of the documentary “EARTHCASTER” at 1841 Cafe in downtown Lenoir. Limited to 50 guests at $35/person. A portion of these proceeds will benefit the Caldwell Arts Council.

Tuesday, April 26, 5:30pm – Joseph and Brooke Delk will host a bourbon tasting party at the Caldwell Arts Council, along with bourbon-inspired hors d’oeuvres and mint juleps on the porch; 20 guests at $25/person.

Saturday, April 30, 10am – Grilling and Brewing with instructor Kevin Smith of the Grill & Brew Club at Studio 102 in downtown Lenoir. Introduction to home beer brewing. Try craft beers and enjoy delicious hamburgers grilled by members of the Grill & Brew Club; limited to 14 guests at $25/person.

Saturday, April 30, 7pm – Exploring Creative Photography with photographer and dentist Douglas Terry at Studio 102. Enjoy light snacks and a pint or two of craft beer or wine while Doug inspires you with his creative images to pursue or revive a photography passion. 20 guests at $25/person.

Saturday, May 7, 7pm – Lenoir Comedy Club returns this time to the JE Broyhill Civic Center (upstairs) with Comedy Zone’s Dean Napolitano and Ryan Van Genderen keeping you laughing for an evening of adult comedy! Limited to 200 guests at $30/person in advance, $35 at the door.

Thursday through Sunday May 12-15, times vary (see website) – ShadowLine Vineyard’s Winery Weekend offers several opportunities to taste all the wines made at their winery; $10/person. A portion of the proceeds from this wine tasting will benefit the Caldwell Arts Council.

Friday, May 13, 7pm – Kay and Patrick Crouch will perform their eclectic repertoire of modern folk songs, jazz, traditional and contemporary blueglass, Celtic airs and dance tunes while you endor hors d’oeuvres and beverages at the Caldwell Arts Council. 35 guests at $15/person.

Friday, May 20, 7pm – Dr. Mark and Kim Picton will host a concert party with the legendary Bob Henson of ‘The Neighbors.’ Bluegrass music will float through the air, and the pool and hot tub will be open if you want to swim or soak. Light refreshments and beverages will be served. Limited to 20 guests at $20/person

Saturday, May 21, 6pm – Dr. Steve and Dawn Mathews will prepare a Middle East Feast for your enjoyment at the Caldwell Arts Council – take a tour of the Middle East, where the food is delicious and the spices are intoxicating! Limited to 12 guests at $25/person.

About the Caldwell Arts Council

The Caldwell Arts Council presents art programs that foster the cultural arts in Caldwell County. Located at 601 College Avenue SW near the heart of downtown Lenoir, hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday & 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. There is no admission charge, although donations are gratefully accepted. To be added to the mailing list or e-mail list, please call 828-754-2486 or info@caldwellarts.com. The Caldwell Arts Council’s programs are supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources and by individual and corporate donors.

Color Run Set for April 15 in Valle Crucis

COLOR RUN – April 15th 6pm

The Run for Fun. Valle Crucis Color Run (or walk) on April 15th at 6:00 pm will take a quick 1.5 mile tour from Valle Crucis School through the Valle Crucis Park while getting blasted with color! This exciting first time family event will be followed by a post party including the Kona Shaved Ice Truck, Pizza, Fun and Games at Valle Crucis School.  Registration for the public begins at 4:30pm on 4/15. Cost $15/person. WALKERS ARE WELCOME. For more information email vpptavcs@gmail.com. *Rain Date 4/22

Register Now for Yoga at the Senior Center

The next session of Yoga classes are scheduled to meet from 6:15-7:15pm at the Lois E. Harrill Senior Center on Tuesdays beginning April 5th. Classes will also be held at the Western Watauga Community Center (WWCC) on Thursdays starting April 7th from 11am-noon.  The instructor, Akal Dev Sharonne, has been a yoga practitioner and teacher for more than 30 years.  Her classes are a delightful blend of humor, challenge and wisdom.  The cost of each 12-week session is $75.00 per person.  Call Akal Dev to register, 828-264-1384.

Flutist Wendy Rolfe to Perform April 3 at App State

Flutist Wendy Rolfe will present a guest recital April 3 at 6 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Recital Hall. Admission is free. Rolfe will be joined by harpsichordist Michael Bell and flutist Nancy Schneeloch-Bingham from the Hayes School of Music.

Rolfe is one of the United States’ leading performers on historical and modern flutes. She is a professor of flute at the Berklee College of Music. She has recorded for Decca, Telarc, CRI, Analekta, and Neuma. She was guest artist on “Odette,” which was chosen as CD of the year in 2005 by the Brazilian Ministry of Education and Culture Radio. She has also recorded for Disney and for Ken Burns. 

The program includes two movements from Micel Blavet’s “Sonata, Op. 2. No. 3 in E minor and two movements from J.S. Bach’s “Trio Sonata in G Major, BWV 1039,” both performed on an 18th century traverse, “The Hermit of Killarney” by Charles Nicholson and “Yankee Doodle” performed on the eight-key classical flute and five-key classical piccolo.

Also on the program are “Souvenir du Para” by Mathieu-André Reichert performed on a 19th century Rudall-Carte cocuswood flute, traditional folk tunes performed on a Brazilian folk flute and Harvey Sollberger’s “Riding the Wind II” and Goffredo Petrassi’s “Dialogo Angelico” performed on contemporary Brannen-Cooper flutes.                                                           

Rolfe performs, records and tours with the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Baroque, New York’s Concert Royal, New York Collegium, Toronto’s Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Houston’s Mercury orchestra and holds the piccolo chair in the Cape Symphony Orchestra. She was a Tanglewood Fellow, and has also performed at the Waterloo, Monadnock, and Buzzards Bay Festivals, and the Boston Early Music and Connecticut Early Music Festivals.

 She performed and taught at the International Summer Festival in Brasilia, the International Flute Festival in Lima, Peru, and the International Flute Festival hosted by the Conservatorio de Musica in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In August 2014 she performed at the Nordic Historical Keyboard Festival in Kuopio, Finland. This year, she will return to the International Flute Festival in Quito, and the “Perla del Pacifico Festival” in Ecuador.

In 2013, with pianist Deborah DeWolf Emery, Rolfe released “Images of Eve,” featuring music written by women from across the globe.

Rolfe serves on the National Flute Association’s Historical Flutes Committee with Schneeloch-Bingham, was chair of the NFA’s Cultural Outreach Committee and also served on its Board of Directors.

ASU to Test Campus Wide Siren System April 6

Appalachian State University will test its campus-wide siren warning system Wednesday, April 6, at 11:55 a.m. Tests are normally conducted on the first Wednesday of the month. For more information about the warning system, visit http://epo.appstate.edu/siren-warning-system.